Rapids
/ˈræpɪdz/noun
A section of a river where the current is fast and turbulent.
Did you know?The word is tied to the same ancient Indo-European root behind Latin *rapere* (“to seize, carry off by force”), which also gave English words like *rapt*, *rapine*, and *rapacious*.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*rep-
“to snatch, seize, or carry off”
Latin
Latin
rapere
“to seize, carry off by force”
Latin
Latin
rapidus
“seizing, swift, violent”
French
Old French
rapide
“swift, rapid”
English
English
rapids
“swift, turbulent parts of a river”